Between Downsend School and St. Peter's Catholic Primary School , Leatherhead

[Amhappy]

Between Downsend School and St. Peter's Catholic Primary School , Leatherhead:

My child is currently a student at Downsend School Leatherhead and due to start year 1 later in September if we decide to maintain current situation.However, the child has been offered a place at St. Peter's Catholic Primary school in Leatherhead. We are trying to make a decision between both schools with the primary objective of choosing the school which presents the best chance of getting admission to the top secondary school in the area, by age 11 or 13, as the case be. Given the financial implications and disparity of both schools, I will be much obliged if I can get some useful insights and advise on making the right choice. Thanks in advance

Kind of depends what you mean by the "top secondary school in the area", I think.

St Peter's is a feeder for St Andrews secondary which is a state school with very good GCSE results. It's getting harder to get into St Andrews unless you are Catholic and/or at a feeder school, so that could be a good tactical move if you want to head that way.

On the other hand, Downsend is much more geared up for preparing children for independent senior schools like Epsom College and City of London Freemens.

Personally, I didn't choose either, although I live in the area, so I can't really offer much in terms of the primary school experience.

I know a little about Downsend (and they are very good at what they do) but nothing about St.Peter's. However, the top secondary school in the area would have to be City of London Freemen's School and it is much easier to gain entry there at age 7 (for Year 3) than at age 11 or 13.

Yes, definitely agree that CLFS is the one I'd be aiming at if we were in the market for a private secondary.

Also, did you know that St Peter's currently has a planning application in to double the size of the school (from one form entry to two form entry)? I don't know what the feeling is among parents about that. Personally, I prefer a larger school but there will inevitably be a period where kids are having to live with the building works, assuming it goes ahead.

Many thanks for your contributions and insightful analysis of the matter . Just to get some balanced perspective, I will like to ask; what if we are aiming for a school like Rosebury School in Epsom?
Should I assume that private primary education is the best foundation for getting into a private secondary or best public secondary ?

Rosebery is a girls' comprehensive school in Epsom (with good results) but there is no entrance exam except for a few music aptitude places - you just need to live within the school's catchment area. If you are thinking of the grammar schools in the next borough - Nonsuch or Wallington then your dd would almost certainly need a private tutor (or be tutored by someone within the family) simply because all the other applicants will have one - even the private school pupils. If your dd is bright enough and you are aiming for the grammar schools then I would think she has just as much of a chance from the state school plus a good private tutor than from the prep school. The prep school will be aiming to keep its pupils until the end of Year 8 and will spend just as much time prepping your dd in science, languages, geography and history (as maths and English) in preparation for the common entrance exams but of course these subjects are not that useful for 11+ grammar school exams. If you are looking at selective private secondary schools in the area, then Downsend would probably be a better bet simply because it has established connections with the senior schools.

M

My Ds is currently in year 10 at St Andrews and although you can't compare it with the likes of CLF or ec for grounds or facilities, I work at a public school, we have been very pleased with Mr mitchels vision and determination to improve the results and Ds is doing very well...prepared for the real world, dealing with all people without out a hint of elitism or snobbery that inevitably comes with the privilidge of public school.